10 Best Threequel Movies Ever Made

Threequels can be hit-and-miss, but the best ones build on the two movies that came before them with their own original ideas. Sequels are already notoriously difficult, so a second sequel can be a step too far for many franchises. Alien 3, Batman Forever and Home Alone 3 are just a few examples of terrible threequels that followed two great movies. Fortunately, not all franchises follow this trend.

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A great threequel can often be the perfect finale to a trilogy. Some of the best trilogies of all time are only held in such high esteem because they end their stories with such aplomb, like The Lord of the Rings, the original Star Wars trilogy and Back to the Future. In other cases, a threequel can set a franchise up for a long and successful run. While episodic franchises like James Bond or the Dollars trilogy have great third movies, these aren’t the same as providing the third act of a long story like many of the best threequels of all time.

10 Back To The Future Part III (1990)

Back to the Future (1985) & Back to the Future Part II (1989)

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Back to the Future Part III

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*Availability in US Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date May 25, 1990 Cast Michael J. Fox , Christopher Lloyd , Mary Steenburgen

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The first two Back to the Future movies see Doc and Marty travelling into the past and the future, dealing with Marty’s birth and his legacy. The third movie is something of a wildcard, sending the duo on a Wild West adventure that pokes fun at the tropes of the western genres while staying true to its sci-fi roots. Robert Zemeckis has always rejected calls for a continuation of the franchise, seeing Part III as the perfect finale.

3:15 Back to the Future - Could Robert Zemeckis’ Musical Reboot Idea Work Related Back to the Future: Could Robert Zemeckis’ Musical Reboot Idea Work?

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Amid the gunslinging fun and games of Back to the Future Part III‘s western pastiche, it also manages to provide the perfect emotional send-off for its characters. After more of the franchise’s lighthearted thrills, Marty reunites with Jennifer with his feet firmly planted in the present for the first time in a long time. Doc gets his happy ending too, traveling to parts – and times – unknown with a family of his own. Back to the Future Part III is the strangest entry in the franchise, but it works out brilliantly.

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9 The Godfather Part III (1990)

The Godfather (1972) & The Godfather Part II (1974)

The Godfather Part III Movie Poster

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ScreenRant logo 6/10 8.8/10 The Godfather Part III

Director Francis Ford Coppola Release Date December 25, 1990 Cast Al Pacino , Andy Garcia , Diane Keaton

The Godfather Part III will always be seen as a disappointment compared to the first two movies, which frequently rank among the greatest of all time, but there’s still a lot to admire about Francis Ford Coppola’s threequel. It’s worth remembering that it was nominated for Best Picture. Coppola and The Godfather author Mario Puzo see Part III as a postscript to a duology, rather than the final act of a trilogy.

It’s a lot to take in, but it all comes together in an explosive final act, which conjures the power of the first two movies.

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The Godfather Part III catches up with Michael Corleone as an established presence in his community, trying to purge his family name of the violent associations of their criminal past. Al Pacino and Diane Keaton are both superb to watch, tying down a story that touches on a real-life Vatican scandal, an incestuous relationship and allusions to opera, the Roman Empire and the story of Jesus. It’s a lot to take in, but it all comes together in an explosive final act, which conjures the power of the first two movies.

8 John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)

John Wick (2014) & John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

John Wick Chapter 3 Movie Poster

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ScreenRant logo 7/10 7/10 John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

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*Availability in US Director Chad Stahelski Release Date May 17, 2019 Cast Halle Berry , Mark Dacascos , Cecep Arif Rahman , Keanu Reeves , Angelica Huston , Yayan Ruhian , Laurence Fishburne , Jason Mantzoukas , Ian McShane , Asia Kate Dillon , Lance Reddick , Tiger Hu Chen

John Wick was a great standalone action movie, but it needed the developments in John Wick: Chapter 2 to create a future for the franchise. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum continues to pay off this decision by once more expanding the world of the franchise, delivering more creative fight scenes, and revealing a few more pieces of the puzzle that makes up the title character’s backstory.

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Parabellum
expands the world of the franchise, delivers more creative fight scenes, and reveals a few more pieces of the puzzle that makes up John’s backstory.

Chapter 3 – Parabellum moves further from the gritty realism of John Wick. The fight scenes are still viscerally engaging, but the characters get a little more eccentric and some of John’s methods seem to be plucked out of old adventure comics, like when he kills a man in a library using a book as a deadly weapon. Ballerina will continue the John Wick franchise, and it looks set to continue the trend of gorgeous stylistic indulgence.

7 The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

The Bourne Identity (2002) & The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

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ScreenRant logo 10/10 The Bourne Ultimatum

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*Availability in US Director Paul Greengrass Release Date August 3, 2007 Cast Scott Glenn , David Strathairn , Edgar Ramirez , Paddy Considine , Matt Damon , Julia Stiles

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The Bourne Ultimatum is often cited as the best movie in the Jason Bourne franchise, and it’s the perfect way to wrap up the original trilogy. While the two subsequent movies are less popular, it could be argued that they only exist because the explosive threequel created an intense desire for more Bourne. The Bourne Ultimatum provides answers to the most important questions about the titular spy that had been present throughout the trilogy.

The pulsating car chase through the streets of Manhattan is one of many action highlights in
The Bourne Ultimatum.

The Bourne Ultimatum features another compelling performance from Matt Damon and more of the franchise’s trademark style of frantic action. Other action movies have tried to copy the shaky-cam fight scenes, but very few have had the desired effect of visceral, immersive terror. The pulsating car chase through the streets of Manhattan is one of many action highlights in The Bourne Ultimatum as it takes in sights from exotic locations all over the world.

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6 War For The Planet Of The Apes (2017)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) & Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

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ScreenRant logo 8/10 7.4/10 War for the Planet of the Apes

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*Availability in US Director Matt Reeves Release Date July 14, 2017 Cast Judy Greer , Steve Zahn , Mercedes de la Zerda , Max Lloyd-Jones , Woody Harrelson , Alessandro Juliani , Amiah Miller , Terry Notary , Andy Serkis , Aleks Paunovic , Ty Olsson , Devyn Dalton , Gabriel Chavarria

After 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes proved that a prequel series could be worthwhile for the franchise, each movie in Caesar’s story improved on the last. War for the Planet of the Apes is a masterpiece of the Hollywood system, and the perfect synthesis of the creative and the commercial. Frankly, a reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise seemed like it would have more financial potential than artistic merit, but War for the Planet of the Apes is a meaningful addition to the story that sums up the trilogy in style.

A reboot of the
Planet of the Apes
franchise seemed like it would have more financial potential than artistic merit, but
War for the Planet of the Apes
is a meaningful addition to the story.

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War for the Planet of the Apes sees the conflict between apes and humans coming to a head, as Caesar starts to question his pacifist philosophy in the face of increasing human aggression. Woody Harrelson’s hard-faced Colonel character is a brilliant addition to the franchise, and a worthy adversary for Caesar, much like Koba in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. The threequel backs up this intense personal conflict with some of the franchise’s most jaw-dropping action. The future of the Planet of the Apes franchise has a lot of good faith to work with.

5 Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) & Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

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8.3/10 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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*Availability in US Director Alfonso Cuarón Release Date May 31, 2004 Cast Gary Oldman , David Thewlis , Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Robbie Coltrane , Timothy Spall , Maggie Smith , Michael Gambon , Richard Griffiths , Fiona Shaw , Alan Rickman

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The Harry Potter series gradually transitions to a darker and more mature style after the relatively lighthearted escapist adventure of the earliest movies. The clearest turning point is The Prisoner of Azkaban, the third movie which sees Harry and his friends learning a lot more about what’s really going on behind the scenes at Hogwarts and in the rest of the wizarding world. It has a much more intense atmosphere than the first two movies, but Alfonso Cuarón handles the transition expertly, keeping just enough of the franchise’s playful side.

3:14 Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in front of the Prisoner of Azkaban Hogwarts cast. Related The Harry Potter TV Show Needs To Fix 1 Prisoner Of Azkaban Change That Hurt The Movies

HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV remake has the chance to right the wrongs of the movies, including a frustrating Prisoner of Azkaban change.

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The Prisoner of Azkaban adds even more top-class British actors to the cast, with Timothy Spall, Gary Oldman and David Thewlis all delivering great performances. The Prisoner of Azkaban is more like a horror movie than the rest of the franchise, but it also stands out for its brilliant time-travel plot. Ultimately, the tonal balancing act of the third movie set up the entire franchise for success. The HBO Harry Potter series will have to find its own way of navigating the story’s shifting atmosphere.

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4 Toy Story 3 (2010)

Toy Story (1995) & Toy Story 2 (1999)

Toy Story 3 Movie Poster

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ScreenRant logo 9/10 8.3/10 Toy Story 3

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*Availability in US Director Lee Unkrich Release Date June 18, 2010 Cast Jodi Benson , Ned Beatty , Tim Allen , Tom Hanks , Joan Cusack

The Toy Story franchise is arguably the greatest animated movie franchise of all time, with four hits and no duds so far. Pixar will try to extend this streak with Toy Story 5, but the franchise already had the perfect ending in 2010. Toy Story 3 came out 15 years after the first movie, and it showed the remarkable technological advancement of 3D computer-generated animation, but the story and the characters take precedence in a heartwarming Pixar classic.

The
Toy Story
franchise is arguably the greatest animated movie franchise of all time, with four hits and no duds.

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Toy Story 3 shows what Pixar is capable of, with plenty of lighthearted, entertaining comedy that eventually gives way to an emotionally devastating finale. As Woody, Buzz and the rest of the toys bid Andy farewell, it offers a cathartic opportunity for the audience to say goodbye to the beloved characters too. This gives Toy Story 3 extra emotional resonance for fans who were with the franchise from the beginning.

3 Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (1989)

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) & Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

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ScreenRant logo 9/10 9.6/10 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

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*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date May 24, 1989 Cast Harrison Ford , Sean Connery , Denholm Elliott , Alison Doody , John Rhys-Davies , Julian Glover

The Indiana Jones franchise has produced two further sequels since The Last Crusade, but the third movie should have been the last.The Last Crusade provides the perfect send-off for Indy, reaching into his past to show a thrilling origin story before fast-forwarding to focus on his legacy. It’s a thoughtful and interesting exploration of a character who rarely shows more than a stoic grimace in the face of life-threatening danger or rapturous love.

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The Last Crusade
is another fast-paced adventure with Indy battling the Nazis over a powerful ancient artifact, but it never feels like it’s trying to copy
Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The Last Crusade is another fast-paced adventure with Indy battling the Nazis over a powerful ancient artifact, but it never feels like it’s trying to copy Raiders of the Lost Ark. Sean Connery’s presence as Indy’s father is a big reason why, as his on-screen dynamic with Harrison Ford emphasizes the comedic side to the Indiana Jones movies. The Last Crusade ends with Indy and his friends literally riding off into the sunset. This moment could seem sentimental in the hands of a lesser filmmaker, but Steven Spielberg earns it.

2 Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi (1983)

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) & Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

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ScreenRant logo 9/10 34 9.1/10 Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

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*Availability in US Director Richard Marquand Release Date May 25, 1983 Cast Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , James Earl Jones , Billy Dee Williams , Ian McDiarmid , Peter Mayhew , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Frank Oz , Sebastian Shaw , Alec Guinness
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The original Star Wars trilogy is still widely considered to be the best one. The prequel trilogy has some great moments, but it was met by an underwhelming fan response, and the recent sequel trilogy all but plunged the fan base into civil war. Return of the Jedi puts the perfect capper on the only undeniably great trilogy of the Star Wars franchise so far. It brings Luke Skywalker’s arc to an end, and it sees the Rebel Alliance finally toppling the Empire in spectacular fashion.

Return of the Jedi
puts the perfect capper on the only undeniably great trilogy of the
Star Wars
franchise so far.

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Return of the Jedi opens by showing a more mature and competent Luke Skywalker than before, as he rescues Han Solo and Princess Leia from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt. This is just a taste of the movie’s hair-raising action and gripping personal story. Before the grand finale, there are many more now-iconic moments, including the speeder chase on Endor and Darth Vader’s sacrifice. The original trilogy is a perfect three-act story that manages to deliver thrills the entire time. The future of the Star Wars franchise seems as though it will focus on standalone movies and spinoffs.

1 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) & The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

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ScreenRant logo 10/10 9.2/10 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

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*Availability in US Director Peter Jackson Release Date December 17, 2003 Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Bernard Hill , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Hugo Weaving , Miranda Otto , David Wenham , Karl Urban , John Noble , Andy Serkis , Ian Holm , Sean Bean Expand

Peter Jackson rounded out his Lord of the Rings trilogy in style with The Return of the King, ensuring that he went three for three delivering some of the most remarkable fantasy movies of all time. The entire trilogy was famously filmed back-to-back in one long shoot in New Zealand, and this gives The Return of the King the same atmosphere and style as the first two movies. It won 11 Oscars, a record which it shares with Ben-Hur and Titanic, although this could also be a case of the Academy recognizing the entire trilogy at once.

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A composite image of Gollum looking sad in front of a closeup of the One Ring from The Lord of the Rings Related The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum – Confirmation & Everything We Know

J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy series The Lord of the Rings is returning to the big screen once again with a spinoff movie entitled The Hunt for Gollum.

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The Return of the King sees Frodo and Sam continue their journey towards Mordor with Gollum in tow. Meanwhile, the rest of the Fellowship unite to defeat Sauron’s armies and ensure Frodo has a clear path to victory. The trilogy ends with an almighty crescendo, including some of the most jaw-dropping battle sequences ever committed to film and satisfying conclusions for the stories of each and every character. The Lord of the Rings franchise has returned with The Rings of Power and the upcoming anime movie The War of the Rohirrim, but Jackson’s trilogy could remain unbeatable.